"BUT I ONLY DRINK ONCE IN AWHILE!"
Not everyone has a "problem" and that's not who we're addressing here.
While the rates of new youth alcohol users have declined since 2010, more than half of underage youth and young adults who use alcohol are binge drinking.
As of 2015 SAMHSA considers "current drinking" = past 30 day use, and "binge drinking" as 5 or more alcoholic drinks on the same occasion for males; 4 or more alcoholic drinks on the same occasion for females. "Heavy alcohol use" = binge drinking on five or more days in the past 30 days.
Drinking even as little as 1oz of liquor a day for 10 years can cause complications such as cirrhosis of the liver down the road. That's not "drinking a lot" by anyone's yardstick but that can still do some silent damage over time.
About one-quarter of college students report having negative academic consequences because of their drinking, including missing class, falling behind in their studies, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades
overall.
(1) White, A., & Hingson, R. (2013). The burden of alcohol use: Excessive alcohol consumption and related consequences among college students. Alcohol Research: Current
Reviews, 35, 201–218
A binge use pattern is a type of substance use behavior characterized by periods of excessive and uncontrollable drug or alcohol consumption followed by periods of abstinence or reduced use. This pattern is often associated with addiction and can lead to negative consequences such as physical and mental health problems, relationship issues, and legal troubles.
People who engage in binge use may feel a lack of control over their substance use, they may crave intense euphoric experiences from drugs or feel they need to drink in social situations to avoid feeling out of place.
Binge use patterns can occur with any substance, but are most commonly associated with alcohol, opioids, and stimulants. It is important to note that not all people who use substances in a binge pattern will develop addiction, but it is a risk factor. If you find yourself engaging in binge substance use, there are many actions you can take today.
Try to identify triggers that lead to binge use and work to avoid these situations, also consider seeking therapy or counseling to learn healthy coping strategies. Remember, it is always possible to make positive changes and take control of your substance use.